Security screening added for Board of Regents’ meetings

Submitted by Public Affairs

The university will take another step this month to enhance security for the formal sessions of the Board of Regents.

Starting with the Sept. 20 meeting, everyone attending the meeting of the Board of Regents will pass through a security screening as they enter the room. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Anderson Room of the Michigan Union.

"Given the heightened awareness across the nation to security issues — and as part of our ongoing effort to enhance safety on campus — we believe this is the prudent thing to do," said Rick Fitzgerald, university spokesperson. "This is not a response to a specific threat."

The screening, recommended by the Department of Public Safety and carried out by DPS officers, will include inspecting bags for prohibited items and having each person pass through a metal detector. Prohibited items will not be allowed into the meeting and there will not be a bag-check area provided.

The screening will not require those attending the meeting to remove all jewelry or empty their pockets of change. However, cell phones, laptops and large metal items will need to be removed before walking through the metal detector.

In the spring the formal sessions of the Board of Regents were moved from the Regents Room in the Fleming Administration Building to larger meeting rooms in the Michigan Union. That change was made to improve access as well as security.